Chapter 45 The Final Break

+8 Pearls

At the entrance. Zayden tossed the slippers carelessly in front of Eliza. His tone bwas /bbcold/b. “These are Naomi’s. Try not to dirty

them.”

Naomi often came to the Holt residence, but ever since the tutoring incident, Grace had stopped weing her. Naomi herself hadn’te by since. Eliza had visited even less, so naturally, there were bno /bslippers for her.

Just give me a disposable pair,” Eliza replied, her voice distant. “This should be myst time here anyway.”

That line hit Zayden like a punch to the chest.

“What do you bmean /bby that?”

“I’m here to break off the engagement.”

Eliza’s tone bwas /bcalm, final. “I’m no longer the young miss of the Rivers family. And if she finds out you’re in love with Naomi. I’m sure bshe’ll /bbe even more pleased.”

JAs Eliza stepped inside. Zayden grabbed her arm. His expression darkened, his voiceced with frustration. “Do you really

hate the idea of being my fiancée that much? So much that byou’d /bjump at the first chance to end it?”

Eliza pulled back slightly, her eyes cool. “Zayden, don’t be childish. We were never ba /bbgood /bmatch.”

In her previous life, she’d endured everything just to be Mrs. Holt–humiliation, betrayal, istion–and still met her end in prison. Now, with the bchance /bto leave it all behind, she wasn’t going to hesitate.

Zayden still bwouldn’t /blet go. “Is this because of Nn?”

“This isn’t because of anyone else. If there’s a reason–it’s you.”

Her gaze met his. Steady. Unfeeling.

That look startled Zaydenb. /b

Eliza continued. “Everyone at school thinks you and Naomi are a couple. You’ve never liked me. You’ve always gone out of your way to make it clear we’re not close. That’s not my fault, Zayden. That’s your problem

“I was only close to Naomi because…”

“Because Naomi’s been clinging to you since we were kids. You’re used to it. You never saw a problem with it, right?”

“If you understand that, bthen /bwhy take it to heart?”

Because Zayden truly believed there was nothing between him and Naomi–nothing inappropriate. She just needed more. help, so he gave her more patience.

Eliza let out ba /bsoft bugh/b. “You’re still so self–centered.”

“What’s bthat /bsupposed bto /bmean?”

“I don’t believe you didn’t notice Naomi liked you. bAnd /bI don’t believe you couldn’t tell I liked you either. You just enjoyed being needed by Naomi, and you enjoyed being adored by me. But I’m done with bthat /bnow.”

bShe /byanked her arm free from bhis /bgrasp.

bZayden’s /bhand–hung in the air, motionless.

Eliza walked straight into the living room and addressed Grace. “Grace, I’m here to officially end my engagement with Zuyden.”

Grace blinked in surprise. “Why all of a sudden? Did Zayden do something to you? Tell me, I’ll scold him.”

*I’ve been disowned. I can barely manage my own life right now–I really don’t want to drag Zayden bdown/bb./bb” /b

Clearly, Grace hadn’t known about Eliza being kicked out.

Chapter 45 The Final Break

She looked toward Zayden, who shifted his gaze away in guilt.

So he bhad /bbknown/bb. /b

“How could they kick you out like that? Do you want me to btalk /bto your parents-?”

“No need. We’ve cut ties balready/b. I’m just here to bmake /bthe engagement break official”

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Grace gave a slow nod. “Well, it bwas /bjust a promise made when you two were babies, You’re adults now, and you can decide for yourselves. If you don’t want to marry, I can’t force youb./b”

Her dismissiveness contrasted sharply with her previous enthusiasm about the engagement. A month ago, she’d treated it like a serious alliance.

So this was what it came down to–benefit and utility.

Zayden’s bface /bturned darker.

Eliza smiled politely and bowed. “Thank you. Ms. Grace. But I’ll still need your signature, just to make it official.”

She pulled out a prepared A4 sheet.

It was a formal statement, bdering /bthe termination of her engagement to Zayden. From now on, they were free to marry others, with no further obligationb. /b

She knew that the original engagement was a business arrangement with actual documentation.

To walk away bcleanly/b, bshe /bneeded to be just as formal.

“Alright, I’ll sign.”

“Mom!” Zayden snapped, trying bto /bstop her.

But bGrace /bshot him a re, warning him to keep still.

She signed her name quickly.

Eliza checked the document, then stood. “Thank you, Ms. Grace. I won’t take up any more of your time.”

Grace gave her a polite smile–nothing more,

As bsoon /bas Eliza walked out the door, that smile vanished from Grace’s face.

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